France: Haute Maurienne

France: The Haute MaurienneLike Valais in Switzerland the Haute Maurienne is an Alpine region between two climates. The weather of northwestern Europe is blocked by the Col de l'Iseran, the second highest pass of the Alps. A southern feeling reaches in from Italy over the much lower Col de Mont Cénis. For centuries Italy's cultural influence seeped in as well, as seen in the high artistic quality of the frescoes in the valley's churches. Even more important is the natural heritage of the Haute Maurienne, since the northern slopes and mountains are part of the Vanoise, a high altitude national park, known for its hiking trails among mountain lakes and glaciers.

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'Madonna, child and apple.’
The Chapelle Saint Antoine in Bessans is famous for its late medieval frescoes. But it houses a nice madonna with child, as well.
The apple (in fact probably a pomegranate) should remind us why we have been driven out of paradise. But it is an apple of salvation, not damnation (as the one plucked from the Tree of Knowledge). In fact, Mary offers us an apple symbolizing the redemption she has brought to the world by incarnating Christ. She thus appears as a New Testament antitype to Eve. Photo Paul Smit.